swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 548
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Post by swiftdream on Oct 19, 2016 13:15:48 GMT -8
I have three WM bags and have only bought them when on sale. That might not happen very often but it does happen. The last WM bag I bought was a couple years ago from Bentgate. They had the bag I wanted a a very nice little discount which I think was about 50 to 70 bucks saving on a Sycamore bag, about as good as it gets with WM these day it seems but I got two bags at the time so saved a nice little bit. When that happens they don't last long, you really have to go with it. I don't see any sales there right now but if you are patient and keep looking I bet someone will come up with a sale.
My previous WM bags are over 15 years old now and still like new in loft with the occasional wash. When I bought my Sequoia it was $350 on sale. The price has jumped phonemically since then but I'll never have to buy another 5 degree bag again.
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daveb
Trail Wise!
Posts: 589
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Post by daveb on Oct 19, 2016 15:15:11 GMT -8
The "gear heads" at Backcountry are always good for some sort of price reduction too. Albeit I think I was only able to talk them out of $20 on my badger.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,932
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 19, 2016 19:56:01 GMT -8
The "gear heads" at Backcountry are always good for some sort of price reduction too. Albeit I think I was only able to talk them out of $20 on my badger. I still kick myself for not buying a Puma when the local outfitter lost his mind and marked one down to $450. It had been on the shelf a couple years and he just wanted to move it.
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panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
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Post by panatomicx on Oct 20, 2016 10:10:49 GMT -8
Eastern Mountain Sports usually has WM bags in the store. I had a good experience ordering a WM Puma from Hermits Hut
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talus
Trail Wise!
Posts: 560
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Post by talus on Oct 20, 2016 10:50:26 GMT -8
I had a good experience ordering a WM Puma from Hermits Hut I got my Alpinlite about 8 years ago from them and they threw in free overfill. Man has the price gone up...
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 20, 2016 15:56:01 GMT -8
Whoa. Just checked out the WM website. Their prices have skyrocketed. Why? Has good quality down gone up that much? Labor? Looking to sell the company to Patagucci? I'd be hard pressed to buy their gear given current pricing. Their product is good, but not that good.
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Post by paula53 on Oct 20, 2016 17:51:45 GMT -8
I wish there was a retailer near me. I like to eyeball the product before buying.
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Post by paula53 on Oct 21, 2016 10:18:09 GMT -8
I must take a field trip to Mammoth Lakes soon.
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zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,886
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Post by zeke on Oct 21, 2016 10:28:39 GMT -8
No matter how far away you live, a trip to Bishop or Mammoth Lakes is always a good idea.
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
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Post by markskor on Oct 21, 2016 10:38:12 GMT -8
I'd be hard pressed to buy their gear given current pricing. Their product is good, but not that good. Possibly stated by someone who does not own one. Disagree...IMHO, the product is that good. BTW, do agree that a visit to Mammoth Lakes is always a great idea. If you're coming up here, and thinking of buying WM gear, drop me a line before...will be glad to meet you at Mammoth Mountaineering for the "local" 10% off discount. Mark
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 21, 2016 10:52:14 GMT -8
Possibly stated by someone who does not own one. I have 2 of their bags. They are good and will last forever if taken care of, but I still want to know why their pricing has gone up so much.
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jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,062
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Post by jazzmom on Oct 22, 2016 4:28:21 GMT -8
I'd be hard pressed to buy their gear given current pricing. Their product is good, but not that good. Possibly stated by someone who does not own one. Disagree...IMHO, the product is that good. I own one Feathered Friends bag and two Western Mountaineering bags. All great bags. But both of their regular 20deg bags are pushing the $500 price tag these days and, frankly, I no longer recommend them outright to people who're looking to get into backpacking or buying their first down sleeping bags unless I know they can afford it and an "investment" bag is an appropriate choice. I dabble in DIY projects and I know how much the materials cost; I hope the rise in prices is due to better pay for their workers (both are made in the U.S.) The FF bag is the first one I bought of the three and I bought it without looking for any discounts or sales and didn't regret it. At the time, "over $300" was the line for a high-end bag. That line is now $500. At this point, I won't buy it unless I find a sale. I purchased the two WM bags with 20% discounts.
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markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
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Post by markskor on Oct 23, 2016 12:46:41 GMT -8
... frankly, I no longer recommend them outright to people who're looking to get into backpacking or buying their first down sleeping bags unless I know they can afford it and an "investment" bag is an appropriate choice. Just thinking out loud here - RE sleeping bags. True enough above, and this "uncertainty" factor, especially for new backpackers... What if I don't like hiking?/ What is a "good enough" bag to buy/try when just starting out? WM (FF) looks really expensive; are they really worth it?...This other bag looks just as good to me... These conundrums drive today's gear industry. Experienced folk (many right here) have, and not by coincidence, come to a similar consensus...We ultimately bought WM/FF. No other gear category has the same quality distinction of excellence...(except for maybe Tilley Hats). Most of us went through the same learning process: First bought cheap, (maybe borrowed or rented)...trail experience gained...years of gradual upgrades...finally arriving at the realizations - Backpacking is somewhat addicting; weight matters; good stuff lasts; and that if they had bought the best sleeping bag option first, hundreds of dollars would have been saved. (BTW, I too wish I had purchased my WM much earlier.) As stated so eloquently above, rare is the owner of a WM/FF bag who doesn't rave...you just do not hear complaints from those who are trail-wise. Unfortunately, hard to explain this to/convince a novice. Many gear choices are subjective - boots, pack, tent, stove, fleece, etc...fit or weight, generally not price, the main determinator... lots of good choices depending on your personal backpacking aspirations. However, with most suitable sleeping bags, weight and fit are similar...thus cost/workmanship/warmth the main differences here. (IMHO), your sleeping system is your most important gear purchase decision. A warm/good night's sleep fixes almost all multitude of trail woes...without it, probably not coming back again. Additionally, re-sale values for high-end bags (lightly used) deserves some consideration too. just my 2¢
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 23, 2016 13:28:44 GMT -8
It all comes down to price point. I'm recently downsized and am having to look a my expenses more closely. If you have the bucks, WM & FF are worth it in the long run, no question. I like my Marmot bags, but bought them many years ago. Just seems like WM pricing has gone a bit over the top.
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 23, 2016 13:31:27 GMT -8
without it, probably not coming back again. Really? So you are gonna die if if you don't have a WM bag?
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